Zim cable running late

The fibre optic cable linking Zimbabwe capital Harare to the undersea cable in South Africa will miss completion deadline by more than six months, due to ‘logistical reasons’, ICT minister Nelson Chamisa has said.

Work on the cable was supposed to be complete by December last year.

"Our contractor ran into a number of logistical problems that hindered progress. All that has been resolved now and we expect to reach Beit Bridge by mid-year," he said.

The fibre optic cable, whose installation commenced in May last year, will also link major cities and towns on the Harare-Bulawayo grid.

When complete, the fibre optic cable will bolster the operations of struggling state-owned telecommunications companies NetOne and TelOne.

Chamisa said all the necessary funding to complete the project was available.

"The money is there. We have instructed the contractor to move with speed because we are behind time. It is vital that we complete this link because every day that we go without being connected is a big loss for the country and the economy," he said.